Newstalk ZB
February 4, 2004 13:07

Commission of Inquiry running within fortnight

Attorney General Margaret Wilson expects inquiry into the police pack rape claims will be run by a retired judge

The Commission of Inquiry into the police pack rape claims should be up and running within a fortnight.

Attorney General Margaret Wilson says she has not yet approached anyone to head the Inquiry, but they are looking at a retired judge.

She says she has total confidence in the criminal investigation being carried out by the police into the rape allegations.

Margaret Wilson says time has moved on, and the police understand the seriousness of this issue.

The Government is currently working on the terms of reference for the Commission of Inquiry.

The Commission will not be charged with establishing the guilt or otherwise of the three officers accused of pack raping a teenager in Rotorua in 1986.

It will instead look at the procedures used by the police when investigating the allegations and why the issue failed to be taken any further.

The only officer who remains in the force, Clint Rickards, has been stood down as the Auckland area commander.

He was promoted to the assistant commissioner's role by Police Commissioner Rob Robinson, even though he knew Rickards had admitted to having consensual group sex with the teenager.

Meanwhile Rape Crisis wants to see even bigger reforms to the Police Complaints Authority than planned.

Rape crisis is pleased the Commission of Inquiry into rape allegations involving a top Auckland officer will include police attitudes to women.

There are plans to distance the PCA from the police, but the organisation wants further changes.

Spokesperson Chris Ravenswood says crimes alleged to be perpetrated by those charged with people's care and protection need to be investigated very seriously.

She says that when police are charged, they need to be cleared, and seen to be cleared, so we can have total faith in them.

She also wants to see the PCA restructured so victims or their representatives can have their say.

Chris Ravenswood says people need to know there is somebody watching 'big brother'.